Electric-signal distributer



(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 1.

RH. PISK. ELECTRIC SIGNAL DISTBIBUTER.

No. 583,039. Patented May 25,1897.

THE mums PETERS cu. wummuma, wASH|NGTON,-D. c.

(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 2. P. H. FISK. ELECTRIC SIGNAL DISTRIBUTER.

Patented May 25,1897

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GMMW sw m. YN 5 THE ncmms wzrzas co, PHDTO-LITHQ. WASHINDYON. n. c.

(No Model) 6 Sheets-Sheet 3.

,P. H. PISK. ELECTRIC SIGNAL DISTRIBUTER.

No. 583,039. Patented May'25, 1897.

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GMKM mum hkwamuwm 0M- m: uoRRvs PETERS Co, woYc-Llmo, wxsnmcmx, u. c.

6 Sheets-Sheet 4;

(No Model.)

v v P. H. FISK. ELECTRIC SIGNAL DISTRIBUTER.

' Patented May 25, 1897.

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6 Sheets Sheet 5.

(No Model.)

'P. H. FISK.

ELECTRIC SIGNAL DISTRIBUTER.

Patented May'25. 1897.

W \mmewzs m: norms PETERS cu. PHDYOMTHQ. WILSNINGTON. a. c.

(No ModeLY 6 SheetsSheet s.

P. HQPISK.

v ELECTRIC SIGNAL DISTRIBUTER. No. 583,039. Patented May 25,1897.

IIIIIIIIII I I N R m Wwfiassas. 3) H Ol x i mum 0W.

THE NORRIS PETERS co. morauwo \VASNINGTONY n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PLINY ll. FISK, OF NORTH BRANCH, MINNESOTA.

ELECTRIC-SIGNAL DISTR IBUTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 583,039, dated May 25,1897.

' Application filed October 28, 1895. Serial No. 567,124. (No model.)

To CI/ZZ ZUYQ/OTI b it may concern.-

Be it known that I, PLINY H? FISK, a citizen of the UnitedStates,residin g at North Branch in the county of Chisago'and State ofMinnesot-a, have made certain new and useful Improvements inElectric-Signal Distributers, of which the following is a specification.

The objects of this invention are twofold: first, to actuate, by meansofa series of electrical impulses conveyed by a single conducting-wire, asignal or other device at any one of several points or stationsconnected by such conducting-Wire and provided with actuating deviceswithout producing a complete operation of any other actuating device inthe series than the one designated, and, second, to produce, by means ofa series of electrical impulses sent over a single wire connectingseveral points or stations, any one of a series of distinct results,such as actuating signals or printing letters or characterssimultaneously at one or more of the connected stations,

the operator or sender of the impulses being at another of the saidconnected stations. 111 the accomplishment of these objects a portion ofthe mechanism used in transmitting the electrical impulses is convertedinto a receiving mechanism by the mere reversing of a number ofswitches. Other sections of the device are used exclusively fortransmitting the impulses, and still others are used only in referringthe effect of the impulses at the receiving-station to the particularsignal or other device to be actuated.

In the accompanying drawings are shown the details of my invention, andin the following specification is described the operations of theseveral parts and afterward the operation of the mechanism as a whole inproducing either of the two general results first mentioned.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a partial plan view of theportion of the mechanism used interchangeably in sending or receiving,together with the switches used in converting this section of the devicefrom transmitting to receiving purposes. Figs. 2 and 3 are respectivelya side and a rear elevation of the same portion of the mechanism on thecross-sections X X and y y of Fig. 1.

and other parts of the exclusively-transmitting portion of the device.Fig. 4 shows an enlarged view of the pairs of contact-plates shown inposition in Fig. (i. Fig. 8 shows in the lower portion of the sheet adiagrammatical view of the electrical-contact parts of the portion ofthe device shown in Fig. 1 with their connections and in the upperportion of the sheet a plan view of the exclusively-receiving section ofthe device, intended to accomplish the latter of the two general resultsmentioned at the beginning of this specification, the figure as a wholeexhibiting the manner in which the efiect of a series of electricalimpulses may be directed to a specified one of a series of signals orother devices actuated by a respective electromagnet. Fig. 5 shows inelevation a sectional view of Fig. 8 011 the cross-line z 2. Fig. 9repeats the diagram of Fig. 8 for the purpose of showing the manner inwhich the effect of a series of electrical impulses is directed to thefirst of the two general results intended by the deviceviz., that ofactuating a designated one of a series of signals or other actuatingdevices, each located at a separate point or station on a line. It alsoshows in diagram the operation of the portion of the device usedinterchangeably in sending and receiving the direction of the localcurrent from battery P, by which this portion of the mechanism isactuated, and of the local current from battery P, by which, in the caseof receiving, the effect of the transmitted impulses is carried to thefinal actuating mechanism, and the relays and switches by means of whichthe main current is brought into relation with the former of thesecurrents. Fig. 10 shows in a general and more or less diagrammatical waythe relation of the mechanism at a sending-station to that at areceiving-station and is designed chiefly to show the changes inadjustment in the interchangeable mechanism, according to its use forsending or receiving purposes.

In detail the device consists of a series of oscillating arms A Apivoted by a central shaft A and extending horizontally in directionapproximately at right angles to each other. Each of the arms A bears anarmature A which may be actuated by an electromagnet A, theretracting-spring A acting in opposition to the influence of saidelectromagnet A. The number of the electromagnets A in the series varieswith the number of signals or devices to be operated, six being,perhaps, the more usual number.

To the free end of each arm A is pivoted a bar F, which is adapted to beactuated in a longitudinal direction by the oscillations of said arm A.

Two blocks F F, of insulating material and having deep longitudinalgrooves or slots on their lower sides, are mounted one on either side ofeach bar F upon metallic supportingbraces D D and adapted to glideeasily thereon. These blocks are provided with shoulders or projectionswhich are engaged by an adjustable head F attached to the bar F and arethereby drawn forward when the corresponding magnet A is energized. Theyare restored to normal position by means of a series of levers II, whichare pivoted to standards 11*", one end being adjustably attached to thenext lower bar F of the series and the other end provided with a headll, adapted to engage blocks F F and drive them backward to normalposition when the preceding bar F is actuated by its correspondingmagnet A The first pair of blocks F F are restored to normal position byspecial electromagnets E E acting upon two armatures (7 (1 connected byyokes d d" and pins (1 (1 to blocks F F. Each block I of the series isprovided with a contact-brush a having constant electrical contact inany suitable manner with its corresponding supporting-brace D andextending downward to contact with a plate attached to base A beneath.When block F is carried forward by head F contact-brush e is carriedforward to a second contact-plate c, adjacent to contact-plate e. To theoutward lateral surface of each block F, except the first in the series,are attached two contact-plates c c", separated by a pointed project-ionc of the body of the insulating-block F, to which they are attaehed.

On the free end of each arm A of the se ries is loosely mounted a blockG, of insulating material, carrying a contact-spring which restsnormally against plate 6 attached to the next succeeding block F of theseries and just below the insulating projection e of said block F,beingprovisionally engaged thereby. The position of block G is adjustedby m cans of a nut G on the end of arm A In certain cases, ashereinafter described, it may, by reason of its engagement with theprojection c on block F, be carried forward on arm A when block F isactuated byits corresponding magnet A. In that case it is restored toits normal position simultaneously with block F by means of a springll", attached to said block F. The free end of each arm A constitutes acontact-point a, which lies between two contact-plates a a attached toan oscillating block B, of insulating material, pivoted at B to the baseA or to a standard erected thereon. Frictional springs a a" rest againstand make contact with plates a and a respectively. Point a is heldnormally, by force of retracting-sprin g A, against plate a which inturn rests against an adjusting contactscrew 13, inserted in and makingelectrical contact with the next succeeding brace D of the series. Platea is adjusted by means of a screw a and should be so placed that thedistance normally separating it from the point a will be considerablyless than that traversed by said point a when it is actuated by magnet Aor the retractin g-sprin g A.

To a standard K, made of insulating material, is attached acontact-sprin g K which rests normally against a contact-plate K alsoattached to standard K. A block K is attached to arm -F and adapted,when the latter is actuated, to strike spring K and drive it from itscontact with plate K Idesire to be understood as not limiting myself tothe minutiae of these details in every particular. For instance, if itbe found more convenient in construction to combine blocks F F in one,or to place the contact-plates e c on the upper surface of block F andattach the contact-brushes c" to the brace D allowing themto bear onblock F instead of on base A, as shown, or to pivot block 3 to thestandard at A instead of at the remote point shown, or to make use ofany of the manifestly-numerous possible vibrations from the method shownof producing the same identical results in a slightly more convenientway, I claim protection in adopting them.

The following electrical connections will be here noticed for thepurpose of describing the switches employed in this part of the device:First, a line, eonsistingof wires Wand connecting each plate (J with itscorresponding magnet A through contact-plate K and contact-spring K, orthrough switch V" when it is closed, as for purposes hereinafterdescribed. Second, a line by wire 1' connecting plate a with arm A saidarm A being of conducting material throughout. Third, a line by wire 2connecting spring a with plate Fourth, a line by wires i con n ectingspring a with the next succeedingbrace D of the series. In this line isplaced a switch which when open breaks the line. Fifth, a provisionalpath around said switch is afforded by wires t, which in certain casesmay be joined electrically at the transmitting-keyboard by the pressureof a keylcver L, bringingaconducting-plate L into contact with a pair ofcon d ucti n g-bars L 1), to which said wires i 1 are attached, as willbe hereinafter more fully described in connection with thetransmitting-keyboard.

Before proceeding to describe further details it is desirable to showthe method of using,both in sending and receiving electrical impulses,the mechanism thus far described, and it will be found that theseoperations will be most readily understood by considering first thosethat occur iureceiving impulses.

In the case of receiving a series of electrical impulses the arm 25 ofswitch V in the path of the local current generated by battery P, Figs.9 and 10, is thrown to plate i and the current proceeds, by wire t,switch-arm t contact-plate 6 wire t to the contact-points of relay R.Said relay R is actuated by the main current and serves to produce inthe 10- cal current the same order of impulses as that occurring in themain current. The local current passes from the armature-lever of relayR by wires 25 and 25 to the arm of switch V which in receiving is thrownto plate 15 so as to pass the current directly via wire to the firstsupporting-brace D of the series before described.

In receiving impulses switches V and V are closed, as shown in Fig. 10.The current then passes through brace D contact-brush e, plate e wire 15switch V and wire i to electromagnet A and thence by wires t 25 tobattery P again. This serves to energize magnet A, and thus to actuatearm A and bar F and all connected parts. Blocks F F will be drawnforward by head F and the contact-brush e will be drawn forward to reston plate 6 This throws the electrical current forward through wire i toarm A thence by contact-point a, which by the movement of arm A will benow in contact with plate a through spring a and wire to plate 6 andfrom thence by wires 75 switch V wire i magnet A wires 25 and 29 tobattery P, as at first. Thus magnet A will remain energized until abreak occurs in the main current, and consequently a break in the localcurrent, which will cause a release of magnet Arms A A will then beginto return to normal position under the influence of retracting-spring APoint at will immediately be brought into contact with plate a and thepath of the current will be carried from contact-point a via plate aspring of, wire switch V (closed,) wire the second supporting-brace D ofthe series, the contactbrush 6 of the second block F of the series, andthence to the second magnet A in the 'manner described in the case ofthe first magnet A of the series. Thus when the current is again renewedthe second magnet A will be energized and not the first, causing amovement of the corresponding arms A A and blocks F F. If this renewalof the current be instantaneous, block F of the second magnet A in theseries will be drawn forward before spring G of the first magnet Areaches its normal position in contact with plate 6 of said second blockF and spring G will fall on plate 6 of said second block F; but if thebreak in the current be protracted the spring G will reach plate 6before the latter is actuated and will remain in contact therewith,being carried forward by means of its engagement with projection e onthe second block F, as before described. The same order of movementswill be repeated until each of the magnets A in the series has beenenergized, and as a result each spring G of the series will rest finallyin contact with either plate 6 or e of the next succeeding block F,according as the intervals between the energizing of the two successivemagnets A involving those parts have been short or long. From the finalplate C of the series the current from battery P is carried by wire tplate d, brush 0Z wire t to magnet E, and from thence it proceeds bywire Z to battery P again. This energizes magnet E and causes arestoration of the first block F to its normal position, the currentthrough said magnet E being finally broken by the withdrawing of brush dfrom plate 2 in connection with the movement of yoke d as beforedescribed.

The final effects produced at the receivingstation by the variouscombinations of the springs G with the plates 6 and a will be explainedhereinafter. The use of this portion of the mechanism in sendingimpulses is as follows: First, the arm of switch V is thrown to plate soas to cause the main current to pass through the contact-points of relayR The arm of switch V is thrown to plate 27, so as to carry the localcurrent from battery P through relay-magnet R and exclude it from thecontact-points of relay B. This, in effect, reverses the relation of thelocal current to the main current from that which they hold in receivingand causes the makes and breaks in the former to be transmitted to thelatter. Furthermore, the arm of switch V, Fig. 9, is thrown to plate bywhich the local current is made to pass through a contact-bar M and acontactplate M", which are joined when a transmitting-lever, as L, isdepressed, as will be hereinafter more fully described. The localcurrent from battery P now flows through wire t, arm t plate 15relay-magnet R wire 25, arm of switch V contact-plates 75 wire tcontact-bar M contact-plate M wire t, plate 75, wire to supporting-braceD and thence to contact-plate a as before described. All the switches ofthe series V and V are open in transmitting. The current will proceedfrom plate 6 through wire 75, plate K spring K wire i to magnet A, andthence by wires 15 and i to battery P in themanner described in theprocess for receiving. Magnot A will be energized and will draw arm Aand bar F forward, as before, until the contact-brush 6 passes the plate6 and until block K strikes spring K and drives it from contact withplate K thus breaking the current energizing magnet A. By the recoil ofarms A and A before described, contact point a will immediately bethrown against plate a and out of contact with plate a thus entirelyexcluding the current from the former magnet A. Arm A will continue itsreturn movement after point a has reached plate a the latter beingpushed onward by said point a until said plate strikes the end of thecontact stop-pin B which will arrest the further progress of arm A Theprovisional path from plate a via plate a", wire i bars L L, wires 6 andi, will admit the current to the second conducting-brace D of the seriesthe instant point a strikes plate a in all cases where said provisionalpath is closed by means of the presence of a conducting-plate L on thetransmitting-lever L depressed, having contact with the respective pairof conducting-bars L L, as before mentioned; but in the cases where suchconducting-plate L is lacking to join a pair of said conducting-bars L Lelectrically when the corresponding transmitting-lever is depressed thecurrent cannot reach the next brace D until arm A has completed itsreturn movement and plate a is brought in contact with the stop-screw Bwhich has contact with said brace D From the second supporting-brace Dthe current will reach the originating-battery through the second magnetA in the manner described in connection with the process of receivingimpulses, and the break in the local current will end.

In the first of the above cases there willbe avery slight break in thelocal current merely while point a is passing from plate a to a while inthe latter cases there will be a relativelylong one. These impulses andbreaks will be imparted to the main line by means of the relay R andwill tend to actuate all instruments on the line that are arranged inthe manner described for receiving impulses. The arrangement of thevarious switches and other parts involved in the interchangeable use ofthis portion of the device is shown diagramatically in Fig. 10, wherethe adaptation of an instrument for use in transmitting impulses isshown at the left of the figure and the adaptation of another instrumentfor use in receiving impulses at a different station is shown at theright.

The transmitting-keyboard consists of a series of levers L, ofinsulating material, mounted pivotally upon a shaft which is supportedby standards L attached to any suitable base L Levers L are heldnormally upward by means of a series of springs L and are each providedwith a press-button L hearing some designated letter or character. Theupward motion of each of the levers L is limited by a cross-bar L,mounted above their free ends.

Running transversely beneath the forward portions of levers L are aseries of bars L L, of conducting material, arranged in pairs andmounted on vertical rods L rising from the base L of the keyboard. Thesebars are held normally upward by spiral springs surrounding rods L, andtheir upward movement is limited by nuts screwed to the tops of rods L.The number of pairs of bars in the series should equal the number ofpairs of magnets A used. A series of small conducting-plates L areattached to the lower margins of the key-levers L in such a positionthat when any key-lever is depressed each plate L will strike the uppermargins of a pair of bars L L and will join them electrically. Themembers of each pair of bars L L in the series are joined, respectively,by a conducting-wire 25 to the contactpoints of one of the switchesbefore described. Two levers M' one on either side of the keyboard, are'pivoted to a transverse rod M, mounted on supports M and are heldnormally upward by a spring M beneath. A contact-plate ll attached toone of the levers M is held normally against a contact-pin M dependingfrom any suitable support, by the tension of said spring M A cross-bar Mof conducting material, attached to the ends of levers h extends beneaththe levers L in such a position that the depression of any lever L willstrike it and carry it downward till it strikes a contact-pin M mountedon an arm attached to standard M 3y this arrangement the depression ofany key-lever L will break the contact between plate l\l"' andcontact-pin l\' 6 and will cause a contact of cross-bar M withcontact-pin M which latter are join ed, respectively, by conductingwiresi t to the contact-plates 15 25 of switch V and thus by this contact aprovisional path will be formed for the local current around said switchV as before described.

The effect of the contact of one of the conducting-plates L with a pairof the conducting-bars L L is, as has been shown, to produce a minimumbreak in the local current by admitting it immediately from acontactplate a to a magnet A, and by consequence in the main currentalso, while the absence of any plate L tends to cause a longer break inthese currents.

By omitting one or more of the plates L" from each of the key-levers Lexcept one and by varying the positions of those used the order of thelong and short impulses may be varied for each of said key-levers, aswill readily appear, the number of possible variations having a fixedrelation to the number of pairs of conducting-bars L L in the series.

Another method of imparting long and short breaks to the main current isshown in Figs. 6 and 7. For this process a bent lever L is placedbeneath the forward ends of the key-levers L and pivoted to standards LL". To a vertical extension L of one end of bar L is attached a bar Lwhich is drawn by a retracting-sprin g L ,causin g an upward tendency ofthe bar L toward the key-levers L. At a point L 011 bar L is pivoted theend of a contact-lever L, which is fulcrumed to a standard L Lever Lbears a contact-brush L ,which is adapted to sweep over a segment L ofconducting material when lever L is actuated. This will evidently occurby the depression of any key-lever L in the series.

From the inner margin of segment L are cut sections of uniform width andat uniform IIO intervals, corresponding in number to the pairs ofconducting-bars L L. The gaps or slots thus made in segment L arepartially filled by contact-plates L, the remaining unfilled portion ofeach gap being chiefly on one side of these plates. Each of the plates Lis electrically connected by wires t with one of the conductingbars Lwhile each of the bars L is similarly connected with the segment L fromwhich the plates L are normallyinsulated. A movable segment L ofconducting material is pivoted also at L", bearing two shoulders L Lagainst which the end of lever L is adapted to strike when actuated asdescribed. Segment L is held normally by lever L against a contact-plateL is in contact with plate L and brush L is in contact with segment L,the main line will be continuous through segment L plate L segment Lbrush L and lever L. It will also be continuous when brush L is incontact with a plate L provided the conducting-bar L to which that plateis joined, is electrically connected with its corresponding bar L bymeans of one of the plates L as before described. In this latter casethere would be but a slight break in the main current as the brush Lpassed over the narrow space between the plate L and segment L while incases where the plate L is not in electrical connection with segment Lby means of such plate L joining the corresponding conducting-bars L Lthe current will be broken while the brush L is passing over the entiregap in segment L containing the plate L designated. Thus by thedepression of a key-lever carrying downward bar L lever L will beactuated, carrying brush L over segment L and each of the smallcontact-plates L with the result of producing a short break in thecurrent when a plate L is crossed having electrical connection withsegment L and a longer break when a plate L is crossed having no suchconnection, these variations depending on the presence or absence of theplates L on the key-lever depressed the same as in the process firstdescribed. At the limit of its advance movement lever L will strikeshoulder L of the segment L driving the seg ment from. its contact withplate L thus causing an interruption of the main current while lever Lis being restored to its normal position by action of spring L.

The portion of the mechanism required ex clusively at thereceiving-station includes a second local battery P, the contact-springsG and contact-plates 6 2 before described, the signals or other devicesto be operated,

and certain related parts which will now be described.

The first of the series of sliding blocks I is provided with acontact-brush 1) similar to the brushes 6, attached to block F beforedescribed. This brush rests normally on a contact-plate b and is adaptedto be carried with the movement of block F to a second contact-plate 12Two oominutator-bru shes d d are attached to the yokes d d respectively,resting normally on false plates d d and adapted to be drawn forward inconnection with blocks F F and yokes d d to rest on contact-plates d drespectively, and to be returned to plates d d by the action of magnetsE and E Plate 12 is connected by wire 25 to the arm of a switch V, Fig.9, one contact-plate t of which is connected by wire 25 withcontact-plate M of the keyboard, the other contact-plate 25 beingconnected by wire with the contact-pin M before described, and by wirewith plate (Z By this means there is direct electrical connection madebetween plates 19 and (Z when the arm of switch V" rests oncontact-plate t and when it rests on plate the connection may becontinued through wires t i when plate M and pin M of the transmittingmechanism are in contact'1'. 6., when no keylever is depressed. Aspecial sliding block F is actuated in connection with the last blocks FF of the series, but so as to be restored to its normal position by thereturn of the correspondinghead F instead of by the cross-leverH ,whichrestores said blocks F W.

To block F is attached a contact-brush e resting normally on a falseplate and adapted to be carried by the movement of block F to contactwith a conducting-plate 6 remaining in contact therewith only while thecorresponding magnet A" is energized and the head F is actuated.

When the first magnet A of the series is energized and the first blocksF F and connected parts are actuated, brush 1) and 6 will be carried tocontact-plates and 6, respectively, and brushes (1 d will be carried tocontact with plates d 61 respectively. A path will then be opened forthe current from battery P by wire first supporting brace D in theseries, brush 1;, plate 5 wire 25 to the first spring G of the series.

One of the first plates 6 e of the series is connected by wire 1 or 6",respectively, to the second spring G, one of the second plates 6 e issimilarly connected with the third spring G, and so on, the last plate 6or 6 being connected with brush a of block F If the current be notinterrupted between plate b and brush 6 it will, when the latter is incontact with plate 6 proceed thence by wire t to the actuating-magnet ofsignal T, which it will energize, passing through wire 25 to plate d andthence by brush d wire 25 magnet E, and wire 25 to battery P again,energizing magnet E, which will restore brush (Z block F, and brush 1)to their normal positions. I have shown that a short interval of breakin the main current will cause a spring G to fall on a plate c and alonger break will cause it to fall on a plate a and also that eitherplate 6 or 0' may be connected with the next succeeding spring 1". Itwill plainly appear that any designated order of connecting these plateswill require a corresponding order of impulses to carry the localcurrent from battery P through the entire series of plates and actuatethe signal T. For instance, let plate 6 of the third block I beconnected with the next spring G by wire while plates 0 of the second,fourth, and all succeeding blocks F are so connected by wires Then if aseries of impulses be received in which the second interval of break isshort and the first, third, and all succeeding intervals are long thefirst spring G6 of the series will drop on plate c, the second on plate0 the third and all succeeding ones on plates 6 and thus a path will beopened for the current to signal T, while any other order of intervalswould cause the spring G to drop so as to break. the path at some point.Thus by using a special arrangement of connections for the plates 0 cfor each station on the line one particular order of impulses willactuate the signal at one station, and only one, which is one of theobjects sought to be accomplished by my invention. After magnet 15 hasbeen energized and brush 1) restored to plate b the current will proceedby wire through the arm of switch V, contact-plate 1", wire fcontact-plate (Z brush (i wire electromagnet E wires 1? 1. to battery Penergizing magnet E and causing it to restore block F to its normalposition. In transmitting it is necessary to prevent the energizing ofmagnet E till the depressed keylever I. is restored, breaking thecurrent from battery P at M M lest there should be a repetition of thesignal transmitted. This is accomplished by throwing the arm of switch Yto contact-plate from which the current may proceed by wire 1' to plateM and contact-pin M, when the two latter are in contaet-zl 8., when thekey-lever L is restored to normal positionthence by wire 15 plate i, andwire 1 as before. This withholds the current from magnet E till thedepressed key-lever is released by the operator, thereby preventing arestoration of the first block I to normal position and in consequence arepeated energizing of the magnets A with a single depression of akey-lever.

The mechanism for actuating any one of a series of signals or otherdevices simultaneouslyat one or more receiving-stations, which is thesecond of the described objects of this invention, consists of a seriesof electrom agnets N", Figs. Sand 5, which, by means of connectin g-barsN impart a slight rotary motion to horizontal shaft N, suitably mountedon standards inserted in the base beneath. To

each shaft N is rigidly attached one or more drivers N, of insulatingmaterial, which engage a series of movable contact-plates N by means ofslots on the lower margins of the latter. By means of these drivers theplates N are carried forward and backward by the oscillations of shaftsN. One end of each sliding plate N in the series rests continually on aninitial contact-plate N, while the other end rests on a terminal plate Nand is carried to a second terminal plate N when actuated by thecorresponding driver N.

In the case under consideration each con tact-plate c of the seriesbefore described is connected by wire t" with the next succeedingcontact-spring G while each of the corresponding plates 6 is connected,respectively, with the initial contact-plates N by wires t Thus when aspring G falls upon a plate 0 the current is carried directly to thenext spring G but when a spring G falls on a plate 6 the current will becarried to the corresponding initial plate N, and thence by slidingplate N" to the firstterminal plate N, from which it will proceed bywire 1', magnet N wires i I to battery P This will energize magnet N andcause it to actuate driver N and carry sliding plate N forward to thesecond terminal plate N, by which means the current will be interruptedthrough magnet N and carried by wires and Z to the next contact-springG". By this means in any case when a spring G falls on a plate c thecorresponding magnet N will be energized and its connected partsactuated, and in every case the current will finally reach the brush cof block A second series of sliding plates N similar to plates N andsimilarly actuated are arranged in the following orderviz., one slidingplate for the first shaft N in the series, two for the second, four forthe third, and so on, each shaft N having double the number of plates ofthe preceding one. Each of these sliding plates N" rests upon an initialcontact-plate N and is adapted to be carried forward to rest upon theinitial contact-plate N of a sliding plate N" corresponding to the nextshaft N of the series. Each terminal plate is electrically joined to aninitial plate N of the nextadvanced set of such plates, to which nosliding plate )1 is carried from the previous set. All the slidingplates of any set are actuated simultaneously when the shaft Ncorresponding thereto is oscillated. It will readily be discovered thatfor any position of the sliding platesh there is one path from the firstinitial plate N to the last set of plates N and only one, and for everyvariation made in the arrangement of those plates by the operations ofone or more of the shafts N a different path is opened, the number ofthe final emerging paths indicated by the wires i being equal to thatpower of two denoted by the number of shafts H in the series.

In each of the emerging paths W is located an electromagnet N designedto actuate a signal or any special device. lVhen brush 6 is carried intocontact with plate a the current proceeds by wire 15 to the firstinitial plate N thence by one of the paths described through plates N NN to one of the final plates N and from that by the corresponding wire23 and magnet N to wire whence it reaches battery P in the manneralready described in connection with the actuating of single signals.This energizes the magnet N in the particular path opened and causes itto actuate mechanism for printing a character or producing a signal orother special effect, as desired. The corresponding magnet N .will beenergized at each receiving-station on the line and the correspondingeffect produced at each of such stations simultaneously.

Shafts N are restored to normal position by means of a bar N which isactuated longitudinally in connection with the mechanism operated by themagnetsN in a manner not here shown.

N, and restore said shafts to their normal position.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. A seriesof levers actuated by elect-romagnets and provided with contact-points,a laterally-movable block having contactplates in proximity to thecontact-point of said lever and adapted to alternately connectelectrically therewith by the lateral movement of said block, blocksslidable upon said levers and having spring-contact plates attachedthereto, a series of slidable blocks upon fixed guides havingcontact-plates sep arated by an inclined stop against which saidspring-contact rests, and electrical connections, whereby when saidlevers are actuated, its contact-points will close a circuit through oneof the contact-plates on said laterallymovable blocks, and hold itclosed so long as the electric current is maintained through theelectromagnets which operate said levers, and the contact-points of saidlevers be returned to their normal positions int-o electrical connectionwith the other-contact-plates of said laterally-movable block when thecurrent is broken through said magnets, and whereby also a current shallbe thrown through a second magnet to close a circuit through thecontact-plates upon said slidable blocks when they are brought intopredetermined positions before the contact points upon said levers arereturned to their normal positions, substantially as and for the purposeset forth.

2. In an electric-signal distributer, a series of bent levers. actuatedby electromagnets and retracting-springs and with sliding bars ofinsulating material actuated in connection with and during the advancemovement only of said levers, a series of contact-plates connected toadjustable pivoted blocks and adapted to divert the electric currentwhich energizes said electromagnets, an insulating contact deviceattached rigidly to each of said levers and adapted to move between andmake contact with two insulated contactplates, said contact device beingseparated from said contact-plates by a distance less than that coveredby said contact device in returning to its normal position under theinfluence of its corresponding contractings'pring, one of saidcontact-plates having provisional electric connection with the magnetactuating the lever corresponding thereto, and the other contact-platesimilarly connected to the next advanced magnet of the series andadapted to rest in its normal position against a contact-stop, said stophaving a constant electrical connection with said advanced magnet,whereby an electric current reaching said contact device during theadvance movement thereof may be carried to said'advance magnet, causingthe action of said advance magnet before the return of said contactdevice to its normal position, or such transfer of said electric currentto said advance magnet may be delayed optionally until the full returnof said contact device shall cause said second contact-plate to makeelectrical connection with said contact-stop, substantially as describedand for the purpose set forth.

3. In an electric-signal distributer, a series of levers actuated byelectromagnets and retracting-springs, sliding bars of insulatingmaterial actuated in connection therewith, contact-plates adapted todivert the electric current energizing said electromagnets, an insulatedcontact device rigidly attached to said lever and adapted to movebetween and make contact with two insulated contactplates attached to anoscillatable block, one of said attached plates having a provisionalelectrical connection with the next advanced electromagnet of theseries, a contact-stop having electrical contact with said attachedplate when said attached plate is in normal.

position, and having constant electrical con tact with said advancemagnet, a block of insulating material carrying a contact-plate, acontact device mounted loosely upon the free ends of said levers andadapted when said lever is actuated to move in a direction approximatelyat right angles to the direction of movement of the next advance slidingbar of the series, and two contact-plates mounted rigidly upon thelateral surface of each of said sliding bars, except the first of theseries, said contact-plates being separated from each other by a narrowinsulating projection and said sliding bar being so placed normally thatsaid contact device of the preceding lever shall rest normally againstthe first of said contact-plates and immediately in front of theinsulating projection being engaged thereby; whereby when the current iscarried to any of the actuating-magnets of the series IIO from thecontact device of the last preceding lever of the series when said leverbegins its return movement toward its normal position, saidactuating-magnet will cause said sliding bar to advance before saidcontact device upon said insulating-block has reached its normalposition beneath said insulating projection and in contact with saidfirst contact-plate attached to said sliding bar, with the result ofbringing said contact device at its full return to its normal positioninto contact with the second of said contact-plates attached to saidsliding bar to cause said contact device to rest optionally upon thefirst or second of the contact-plates upon said sliding bar according asthe magnet actuating said sliding bar is energized at the beginnin g orat the close of the return movement of the last preceding lever of theseries, and thereby producing a selective path for an electric currentthrough the several contact devices of the series, and the correspondingand alternative contact-plates of the sliding bars, substantially asdescribed and for the purpose set forth.

4. In an electric-signal distributor, a series of bent levers actuatedby electromagnets and retracting-springs and with sliding bars ofinsulatin g material actuated in connection with and during the advancemovement only of said levers, a series of insulating-blocks carryingacontact device and loosely mounted upon the free ends of said levers, aseries of restoring-levers actuated in connection with saidelectrically-actuated levers, whereby the forward movement of each ofsaid electricallyactuated levers shall operate to re tore to theirnormal position both the insulated block mounted thereon, and the nextsucceeding sliding block of the series, the first sliding bar beingrestored to its normal position by a special magnet, substantially asdescribed and for the purpose set forth.

5. In an electrical signal distributer, a mechanism whereby each of aseries of primary electric contact-points is brought into contact witheither of two corresponding i11- sulated alternate contact-points; aseries of adjusting electromagnets connected respectively with the likenumber of each set of said corresponding contact-points by an electricalconductor, each magnet being adapted when energized to actuate anoscillating bar, a series of movable contact-plates engaged by each ofsaid oscillating bars, each movable contact-plate connecting normally aninitial contact-plate with one of two corresponding terminalcontact-plates and adapted to be moved by said oscillating barso as toconnect the same initial contact-plate with the second of saidcorresponding terminal contact-plates, whereby each terminalcontact-plate being electrically connected with a respective initialcontact-plate of the next succeeding series of movable plates and thusdoubling the number of contact-plates in any series over that of thelast preceding series, and an electric current entering the initialcontact-plate of the first series maybe made to enter either of twoinitial plates of the second series, any of four initial plates of thethird series, any of eight initial plates of the fourth series, and soon in the same ratio for any number of series so erected, with theresult of bringing said electric current to any desired one of a seriesof actuating electromagnets corresponding to the number of terminalcontactplates in the last or highest of said series of suchcontact-plates, according to the order in which said adjusting-magnetsmay be energized, this in turn depending upon the order in which thesaid primary contact-points may be connected with the correspondingalternate contact-points, and with the further result of energizing suchactuating-magnet for the purpose of operating a signal or printing acharacter, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

6. In an electrical distributer, a series of levers actuating magnetsand retractingsprings, sliding bars of insulating material actuated inconnection therewith, an insulated contact device attached rigidly toeach of said levers, and contact-plates each attached to anoscillatingblock and adapted to make contact with a correspondingcontact device when the latter begins its retrograde movement, akeyboard consisting of a series of insulated key-levers held normallyupward by springs, said levers having insulated contact-plates so placedthat when any key-lever is depressed, each of said key-levercontactplates electrically joins the two members of a series of pairs ofspring-supported contactplates, one of the members of each pair of saidspring-supported contact-plates having electrical connectionrespectively with one of the said contact-plates attached to anoscillating block, and the other member of each pair of saidspring-supported contact-plates having electrical connection with theact-nating-magnet next in series above the one by which said attachedcontact-plate is actuated, whereby any desired combination of saidattached contact-plates with their corresponding advanced magnets may beelfectcd by depressing the key-lever having the cor-' respondinglyarranged insulated contactplates, with the result of energizing each ofsaid advance magnets at the moment the respective precedingelectrically-actuated lever begins its return movement, and with the further result of producing a comparatively short interruption of thelocal electric current energizing said series of actuating-magnets, saidinterruptions being communicated by a relay with a main line,wherebysimilarly-constructed instruments at distinct points 011 said main linemay be caused to produce synchronously the same movements as thecorresponding parts of the transmitting instrument, substantially asdescribed and for the purpose set forth.

7. In an electrical distributor, a segmental contact-plate connectedwith said main line on one side of a switch, and having radiating slotspartially filled with insulated contactplates, a lever bearing acommutator c011- nected on the opposite side of said switch with themain line, and adapted to move over said segmental contact-plate andsaid radiating slots and insulated contact-plates, a series ofspring-supported key-levers having insulated contact-plates adapted whenthe key-lever is depressed to electrically join the two members of aseries of pairs of spring-supported contact-plates, one member of eachof such pairs of contact-plates being electrically connected with saidsegmental contact-plate, and the other member being connectedrespectively with one of said contact-plates in the slots of saidsegment, a rod beneath the ends of said key-levers and connected to saidcommutator-lever, whereby when any of said key-levers are depressed saidcommutator-lever will be carried across said slots and thecontact-plates therein, and the contact-plates of said key-levers willjoin said spring-supported contact-plates, with the result that whensaid commutator crosses a slot in said segmental plate containing acontact-plate having electrical connection with the segment through saidspring-supported contact-plates and said key-lever contact-plates, theinterruption of the main current will be a short one, but when saidcommutator crosses a slot having a contact-plate having no electricalconnection with the main segmental plate, the interruption will be moreprotracted, whereby the order of longer or shorter interruptions willvary according to the arrangement of contact-plates upon the differentkeylevers depressed, substantially as described and for the purpose setforth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

PLlNY H. FISK. W'itnesses:

O. N. WooDwARn, A. C. VOAK.

